Leke Adesoye, founder of Junglist Movement, has died
The designer and promotor of UK hip hop and jungle had been fighting a rare disease
Junglist Movement founder, Leke Adesoye has died following a battle with cancer.
Adesoye was a key figure for the genres of jungle, drum ‘n’ bass and UK hip hop as well as a fashion designer.
Last year it was announced that Adesoye had been sent to hospital after hurting his leg at a gig.
Five months after this, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma bone cancer.
To support him, a GoFundMe was created raising over £16,000 and in May, a compilation album 'The Aerosoul Album', featuring Seba, Double O, and Harmony, was also released in support.
After spending almost a full year in hospital, he sadly passed away on Tuesday (October 10) with an official statement posted on his Facebook page confirming that he was “surrounded by his family and was not in any pain”.
As a committed member of the jungle and drum ‘n’ bass community, Adesoye would perform with the likes of Paradox and David Davies as part of the group Mixrace.
However, Leke Adesoye was best known for his iconic Junglist Movement clothing which has been running for almost 30 years with his own Aerosoul Limited.
Aerosoul Limited also worked with his other brands including Hip Hop Movement, Babysoul, Soulero Sista and Aerosoul Africa.
With its signature logo and message, Adesoye’s brand has been worn by the likes of Ghostface Killah, General Levy, Ian Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Terri Walker and many more.
Whilst studying at the London College Of Fashion, he developed his free-hand illustration skills which worked from inspirations from early rave and jungle culture.
Many recognise Junglist Movement from the 1999 film Human Traffic in which the character Koop, played by Shaun Parkes, wore one of Adesoye’s T-shirts.
The Aeosoul website describes Adesoye as a “selector, promoter, curator and card-carrying raver, he’s been part of the fabric of the scene since it began and his vision has always been to not only create and participate in one of the most boundary-breaking movements the UK has ever seen, but to help drive and promote it.”
Since the news of his death, tributes have poured in from the likes of 2 Bad Mice, DJ Slipmatt, and Simon 'Bassline' Smith.
Read the official statement on Leke Adesoye’s passing below.
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter